Dr. Edward Paul Hartley and Vivian Maria Hartley

Reader Dr. Edward L Paul Hartley (1935-2019)

and

Vivian A Maria Hartley (born Robertson) (1941-2013)

Early life of Edward L Hartley

On 1 November, 1935, Edward Hartley was born in Nova Scotia, Canada to Lawrence and Beatrice Hartley. Edward was raised as a Anglican Christian in his family.

Long afterwards, he would gratefully perceive the significance of the date of his birth. In the Orthodox Christian Church, 1 November is the Feast of the Holy Martyrs and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian, patron-saints of physicians.

Higher education

After completing his primary and secondary education, Edward continued in post-secondary education.

Since Edward wished to become a physician, it was necessary that he first acquire an undergraduate degree. He studied for this purpose at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After this, he continued his studies in the Faculty of Medicine in Dalhousie University.

He graduated with the Degree Doctor of Medicine, and he completed his requirements for practice in 1964.

Move to British Columbia, 1964

It was immediately after his graduation and completion of all requirements in 1964 that Edward moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he intended to begin a medical practice.

After he had settled in Vancouver, he met his future wife, Vivian Robertson.

Early life of Vivian Robertson

On 5 November, 1941, Vivian A Robertson was born to Frederick and Edith Robertson in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Vivian had been raised as a Christian, and she had grown up as a faithful Anglican Christian in Vancouver.

Higher education

After she grew up and finished school, Vivian also continued in post-secondary studies.

She pursued a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Classics at the University of British Columbia.

The preparation for such a degree includes the study of the languages, literature, history, architecture and philosophies of the ancient Greek, Roman and other cultures.

During the period of her studies, she continued to attend church services faithfully.

Then she met her future husband, Dr. Edward Hartley.

Marriage, 1967

Vivian Robertson and Dr. Edward Hartley were both very active Christians in their youth, in the Anglican church in which they were raised.

Their main parish was Saint Peter's in Vancouver, which later closed and merged with Holy Cross Japanese Anglican parish on the same property (30th Avenue and Walden Street).

It was in this parish that they were married in 1967.

Saint Peter's Anglican Church, Vancouver, BC : first building, last building, on Walden Street

It was not long after their marriage that they were introduced to Bishop Joasaph (Antoniuk) at Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church in Vancouver.

Reception into the Orthodox Church, 1971

Their encounters with Orthodox Christians in Vancouver opened new horizons of hope to them.

In 1968, "Dr. Ed", as he was often called, had taken up the hobby of painting icons It had been this study, and his producing of icons (written in a very simple manner at first) that helped to draw him into the Orthodox Faith.

Dr. E P Hartley in his painting studio

After they had met Bishop Joasaph (Antoniuk), and after they had requested to be instructed in the Orthodox Christian Faith, they were baptised by that holy bishop in 1971, at Holy Resurrection Church.

When they were received, Vivian received the additional name Maria, and Edward received the name Paul. They began their life in the Orthodox Church as members of Holy Resurrection Church in Vancouver (a Russian-speaking community). Vivian managed to learn to sing in Church Slavonic with the choir, and Edward would read the Epistle in English after it had been read in Slavonic at the Divine Liturgy. Their presence at that time produced the early presence of some use of the English language at services, and this presence never left that parish.

By this time, they had received from the Lord their 3 children : their son James, and the twin daughters Andrea and Maria.

As a consequence of their "coming home" to the Orthodox Christian Faith, Vivian, together with her husband, came to lay the foundation of English-speaking Orthodoxy in British Columbia.

When Edward was asked why they had embraced the Orthodox Christian Faith, his reply was :

 Because of the beauty and the truth, that's a good way to put it.  We were led to Orthodoxy through the icons. 
 And through our reading.  

Bishop Joasaph holding an icon painted by Dr. Hartley

Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver

Domestic chapel of Saint Herman of Alaska, 1976

In 1976, with the help of a Greek immigrant named Nicholas, Edward, and Vivian built a domestic chapel in the backyard of their home in Whalley, British Columbia. The awareness that it could be possible came from his hearing about a domestic chapel that had been constructed in Victoria. The domestic chapel (constructed of concrete blocks and painted "silver") was named for Saint Herman of Alaska. Laminated cedar beams were made to support the omega-shaped roof.

Later, Edward added a narthex-extension. This chapel contained many icons, and mementos of many persons. In the chapel were some home-made service-books and various hymns in English, which were used for personal or corporate prayers.

While Edward was working on these construction projects, Vivian squeezed into her child-rearing and family responsibilities the translating of the Divine Liturgy and other services from Greek into English.

First Orthodox Christian English-language mission in Canada

By undertaking this labour of love, Dr. Ed and Vivian had established the first English-language mission in Canada. They had done all this with the knowledge and blessing of Bishop Joasaph (Antoniuk). At that time, although the English language had been used in various parishes in Canada until this time, there was so far no place were English was used completely.

However, by 1980, the situation had changed. With the blessing of Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) (ruling bishop of the Archdiocese of Canada), there were established the English-language missions of Sign of the Theotokos (Montréal, Québec), Saint Herman of Alaska (Edmonton, Alberta), Holy Transfiguration (Ottawa, Ontario), and Saint Gregory of Nyssa (Kingston, Ontario).

During the following decades, Edward and Vivian and their children and grandchildren went frequently to this chapel to pray, to light candles, to share their Faith with their friends, to sit silently. These visits included other members of their family, their neighbours, their friends, their guests.

It was in this context that Dr. Edward Paul Hartley was tonsured to be a Reader by Bishop Joasaph (Antoniuk).

Saint Herman of Alaska domestic chapel

More recent view of the chapel exterior

Beginning English-language missionary work

Later, wanting to raise their children in the Orthodox Faith in their own language, and with the blessing and support of Bishop Ioasaph, Edward and Vivian decided to found an English-speaking mission in their home chapel of Saint Herman of Alaska in Whalley, Surrey.

They began by offering Reader’s Services in their private back-yard chapel. In due course, they were able to find several local priests who could serve this “nestling” community. Their first permanent clergy served them under the blessing of Bishop Andrey (Kuschak) of the Ukrainian Diocese, which is a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. However, as is usual in missionary foundations, they faced many difficulties in trying to sustain regular services.

Establishing the Saint Nicholas Temple, Langley, 1977

In 1977, with a group of other Orthodox persons, they pooled their resources and purchased a formerly Protestant church building in Langley, British Columbia, about 19 km (12 mi) southeast from Surrey. This Temple was named for Saint Nicholas of Myra. The first priest who served Saint Nicholas the Wonder-worker Temple was the Priest Andrew Morbey. He served them for a short time, during which there was noticeable growth.

However, because of economic and other considerations, Father Andrew had to move away. As a consequence, some of the community founders took the building and the community to another bishop. Moreover, these changes took place more than once. The first time involved the severe reduction of the use of English. Then the community returned to the Archdiocese of Canada. After some time, the parish came to be served by a cleric of the Antiochian Archdiocese.

Saint Nicholas Temple, Langley

Return to the domestic chapel

Edward and Vivian did not feel that they were able to participate once the English language was rejected, and they returned to their domestic chapel to pray and to wait. People gathered there with them. Those gathered would either pray under the leadership of one or another priest whom Dr. Ed had found who could serve them temporarily, or they would pray the Hours and the Typical Psalms together as a Reader's Service.

Regardless, both then and afterwards throughout her life, Vivian was rightly described as a pillar of the parish family. She would teach Sunday School, bake prosphora, sing in the choir, and serve on the parish council. In addition, her home was always open to whoever would suddenly appear. Very often a person would drop in to see Dr. Ed, and the visit would include a cup of coffee, a chat with Vivian, and perhaps a meal.

The "Surrey Menaion" is developed ; iconography begins

While he was actively practicing medicine, in spare moments Edward began organising tropars and kontaks (an English rendering of the Greek “troparions” and “kontakions”) for use in his family’s domestic chapel. In addition, he copied simple icons associated with these hymns

Every day, he and members of his family went to this chapel over many decades in order to pray together or alone. His collection of such tropars and kontaks grew slowly and steadily as he searched for, and found them. With his portable manual typewriter, he then typed them manually onto sheets of paper (often while drinking coffee at the dining-room table), which he eventually organised into what he would then call (with his usual sense of humour) “The Surrey Menaion”.

Over the years, Doctor Hartley generously and kindly provided first carbon-copies and then photocopies of this “menaion” to anyone who thought it might be useful.

Dr. Ed and Bishop Seraphim, entrance to the chapel

Another view of the entrance (entrance door to the right)

The cozy interior

Home-made Gospel Book cover

Further education for Vivian

In the course of raising her family and supporting the development of Orthodox worship in the English language, Vivian furthered her formal education.

To her B.A., Vivian added a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Classics from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Establishing a permanent parish, 1987

Then, in 1987, Edward Paul and Vivian Maria were able to find through the OCA Bishop of Canada a priest in the Archdiocese of Canada of The Orthodox Church in America who was able to serve them, and the community was received into the Archdiocese of Canada for this purpose.

This priest was Father Lawrence Farley, who was assigned by Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) to serve the community. Father Lawrence has led that community for well over 30 years. However, the beginning was not at all easy for him. As he wrote, at the beginning, there were only 15 people attending the services :

 They had no stipend available for a priest, and no other building.  Their priest would have to find a secular job 
 to support himself and his family while the mission grew.  But they all had enthusiasm and commitment, and the 
 parish slowly grew.

The growing mission of Saint Herman of Alaska quickly became a mission-parish and then later a parish as it outgrew its original cozy chapel in which Father Lawrence had begun to serve them.

The community found rented quarters for a time in an Anglican church in Surrey.

A little later in 1987, the historical but disused Milner Saint Andrew's United Church building (built in 1885) at Glover Road in Langley became available for rent. This was the next step for the parish of Saint Herman of Alaska. The parishioners rented this facility, pulled out the pews, and installed an iconostas.

This building is situated very near a mainline railway. Generally, this railway served to bring cars full of coal to the coastal terminal that fills ships with the coal. These ships sail to various places in Asia. The very noisy trains would pass the church building at least once during a service, and the whole building vibrated during the passage of the train.

Saint Andrew United Church, Langley : next home for the parish of Saint Herman

At length, the parish grew enough so that Father Lawrence Farley could resign from his secular job in order to work full-time for the parish. The parish soon came to consist mostly of young people, students, and young families. Even so, a few persons of well-advanced years entered the Orthodox Christian Faith in this community (very much thanks to the hospitality and welcome of Vivian and her husband).

Further development at the home front

In 1991, Edward built a raised, covered patio next to the domestic chapel. He raised columns made of thick cardboard tubes from the local paper mill, filled them with homemade concrete, and painted them blue (like the trim of his house). He called it a "Mini-Parthenon". He put a light-admitting plastic roof above the pillars.

In his basement studio, he continued (year after year) to paint icons of all sorts and sizes. His icons helped many missions make a beginning with icons that were not merely laminated or découpaged.

Dr. Edward Paul Hartley with one of his icons

Vivian’s greatest work of service in the parish she and her husband had founded was that of hospitality for the after-liturgy meals and for other parish events. This hospitality that she had offered on her own for many years during the early years, now was expanded and cared for by others, and the responsibility was taken up by younger people. Of course, Vivian continued to sing, to teach, to bake, to mind the book-store, and to participate in meetings. She travelled across Canada many times to represent the parish at the general assemblies of the Archdiocese of Canada.

Vivian Hartley with Bishop Mark, 1997, at the founding of the Fair Haven chapel in Ontario

As well as raising 3 children in the Orthodox Christian Faith, Vivian stood as sponsor for numerous godchildren, including some who later became clergy.

Translating the Psalter, 1990-2000

Because Vivian had completed the Master’s Degree in Classics, she had a good command of both Latin and Greek. Vivian therefore was eventually able to provide Bishop Seraphim with a translation of the Book of Psalms (often called "The Psalter") from the Septuagint Greek (the term used to describe the sort of Greek which was written and spoken between 200-300 BC) into the English language. He and a committee further refined and edited this work for publication in AD 2000. Vivian squeezed this work of translation into free moments between 1990 and 1996, while she continued with all her other responsibilities. Such responsibilities included her natural warm sense of welcoming hospitality. As a result, she and her husband were constantly receiving drop-in guests for coffee and conversation. Such hospitality did, in fact, welcome many people into the parish itself in time.

By the time the "Psalter According to the Seventy" was published by the Archdiocese of Canada, Vivian had become a grandmother several times over. Such work is not accomplished quickly.

The published Septuagint Psalter

Vivian and Ed always maintained their interest and ties with various Orthodox communities around the Lower Mainland. While still remaining dedicated to the fulness of Orthodoxy, they did not hesitate to reach out to the non-Orthodox both from the parish they founded, and from the hospitality of their kitchen and their table. It was as a result of their sincere interest in the persons whom the Lord sent to them, that many people came to the Orthodox Faith, and that many missionary ventures began.

Dr. Ed and Vivian in their hospitable kitchen

Dr Ed, Vivian, Bishop Seraphim in the hospitable kitchen

Dr Ed, Vivian, Bishop Seraphim on the front porch of their home

The parish of Saint Herman of Alaska, which was founded by Vivian and Edward, continued to grow. By then now located in Langley), it came to include members from many ethnic backgrounds who worship together in English.

Following the Hartleys’ example, the parishioners are raising their children in the Orthodox Christian Faith. Over the years, members of this parish have gone on to help in the founding of other parishes : in Victoria, Comox and Vancouver, and to serve and live in other parishes across Canada and beyond. Several have gone to seminary, and received ordination. Of all these, Vivian is rightly honoured as a mother in Christ. The positive missionary influence of Vivian and Edward extends yet farther : even to New Zealand.

First Saint Herman of Alaska Temple, Langley

Second Saint Herman of Alaska Temple, Langley

Retirement, 2004

In 2004, Dr. Edward Hartley officially retired from his medical practice. The loss of his kind and personal care that was his particular gift was greatly felt by the many who had turned to him for help with their health concerns. It was at about this time that he had a cardiac incident which required surgery. He was mercifully able to recover from this, and he continued his programme of walking great distances (often in a forest or on a mountain).

Long before the internet existed, Dr. Hartley maintained a correspondence with many people from various places in the world. He talked and wrote constantly about the Lord, and he encouraged many in their own missionary endeavours.

Dr. Hartley at the chapel

In August, 2013, Vivian participated for the last time in an Archdiocesan Assembly in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Québec. She had been a faithful participant in many such assemblies (and some All-American Councils of The Orthodox Church in America) as a representative of her parish.

Repose of Vivian, 2013

On Tuesday, 19 November, 2013, the handmaiden of God Vivian Maria Hartley departed this life and went to be with the Lord. She had been suffering from cancer, and despite the treatments, she was able to remain at home for the duration.

Vivian Maria Hartley

Ed and Vivian’s 3 children, James, Andrea and Maria, and Ed, were with her at her home when she went peacefully from this life into the Kingdom. All 3 remain active members in the Orthodox Church, and Vivian’s grandchildren, too (Christina, Alexandra, Herman, Katherine, Daniel, Anselm, and Adam), are being raised in the Faith.

Her funeral services were held at Saint Herman’s Church in Langley, British Columbia, and they included :

On Thursday, 21 November, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., a Panikhida was served, which was followed by an overnight vigil in the Temple. This vigil beside the coffin consisted of readings from the Psalter and other Scripture passages. The reading continued with people taking their turns until the next services began.

On Friday, 22 November, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was served by the Archpriest Lawrence Farley and other clergy and the Faithful in the Temple of Saint Herman of Alaska.

The interment was at the Valley View Cemetery in Surrey, and a reception followed afterwards.

Parish library renovated in honour of the founders, Edward and Vivian Hartley, 2016

On 24 January, 2016, on the occasion of the year of celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Parish of Saint Herman of Alaska in Langley dedicated the newly-refurbished library to its founders, Dr. Edward and Vivian Hartley.

Dr. Hartley with Andrea and Maria

Dr. Hartley and a few of his godchildren

In addition to this and other events, the 40th anniversary of the parish took place on 24 September, 2016, with an archpastoral visit by Archbishop Irénée (Rochon). Gratitude was once again expressed to this family.

After the repose of his wife, Dr. Hartley continued to live for some time in their home, until he began to have difficulty with his memory. In due time, he went to live in a facility for assisted living. There, he continued his custom of taking demanding (even rigourous) walks, and he visited with family and friends.

Dr. Hartley

Repose of Dr. Edward P Hartley, 2019

On Saturday, 13 July, 2019, the Reader, Dr. Edward Paul Hartley fell asleep in the Lord.

On Friday, 19 July, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., a panikhida (memorial service) was served at Saint Herman of Alaska's Orthodox Church (7221-198B Street) in Langley.

On Saturday, 20 July, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-Person were offered by the Archpriest Lawrence Farley at Saint Herman of Alaska's Orthodox Church (7221-198B Street) in Langley.

Following the funeral obsequies, his body was interred beside that of his wife at the Valley View Memorial Gardens in Surrey, and a reception followed.

Memory Eternal to Dr. Edward Paul Hartley and Vivian Maria Hartley, servants of Christ, and missionaries of the Orthodox Christian Faith.

Grave-marker of Dr. Edward Paul and Vivian Maria Hartley

Reflections

It would be too little to say that the people of Saint Herman's, amongst so many others, miss both Edward and Vivian greatly.

Archpriest Lawrence Farley, long-time pastor of Dr. Ed and Vivian wrote :

 Dr. Ed was a man of humour, zeal, and effervescence.  He was always ready with a joke and smile.  When I would phone 
 his house he answered the phone often by saying, 'Greetings and hallucinations — I mean greetings and salutations !' 
 In all the years I was his parish priest I never recall him frowning or being in a bad mood.  He wanted to convert 
 absolutely everybody to Orthodoxy, and his home was an open house, a place of welcome and kindness.  I may add that 
 his wife Vivian and his children shared in his kind and zealous spirit. 

He added that at Saint Herman's Church, the Sunday following the repose of Dr. Ed was a reflection of the nature of the foundation of the parish :

 We baptised an infant, a child of South Asian and East Indian-Caribbean descent.  We baptised the Anglo-Canadian 
 husband of one of our Russian ladies.  We baptised another adult North European/Canadian convert.  We also received 
 by chrismation the Armenian mother-in-law of one of our Romanian immigrants.  Before the baptisms, a lady who was a 
 longtime friend of the Hartleys was finally entered into the catechumenate, joining a young Ethiopian catechumen.  
 Dr. Hartley would have been pleased by all this, since he wanted everyone to become Orthodox, regardless of their 
 upbringing or national identity.  I would like to think that the Lord allowed him to peek down into the nave of his 
 old parish, and rejoice in the work in which he and Vivian had been so instrumental in bringing to birth.  
 
 Dr. Ed will be missed by all who had been privileged to know him.  He was one of a pivotal generation who was prepared 
 to work and sacrifice to join the Orthodox Church in a day when the cost for doing so was very high.  If conversion 
 to Orthodoxy is now somewhat easier, this owes much to Dr. Ed and those of his generation who were prepared to pay 
 the price and hold the door open for us.  Our debt of gratitude to him and those like him is very great.  

It is particularly difficult to be suffering from a condition involving memory loss, and at the same time to be very aware of what is happening. It is a significant test of a person's spiritual mettle. Dr. Hartley was reported to have been given the Grace to be able

 to express woe and sorrow as he felt it, followed by struggling through his tribulations, and always ultimately finding 
 a sense of peace and joy in the Lord.  He was the embodiment of the Psalms, even when deep in his dementia and confusion.  
 He forgot and confused many things, but he was never apart from the love of God.  

Dr. Ed

References

Saint Herman of Alaska Parish history

Additional information :

Farley, Archpriest Lawrence, “Taking It Personally” (article about Dr. Edward Hartley)

Jones, Michael Owen, “Edward Hartley”

Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church

Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, Langley, British Columbia listing

Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor in Vancouver, British Columbia

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America (OCA) listing

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish)

Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)

Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko)

Metropolitan Jonah (Pauffhausen)

Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)

Bishop Joasaph (Antoniuk)

Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns)

Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)

Archpriest Andrew Morbey

Archpriest Lawrence Farley

Priest Stephen Slipko

Vivian Hartley obituary

"Vancouver Sun" obituary of Vivian Hartley

Archdiocese of Canada obituary for Vivian Hartley

Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America web-site obituary of Dr. Edward Hartley

Remembering.ca obituary for Dr. Hartley

"The Vancouver Sun" obituary for Dr. Edward Hartley

Findagrave reference for Dr. Edward and Vivian Hartey

Findagrave reference for Valley View Memorial Gardens in Surrey BC

“The Psalter according to the Seventy” (Translated from the Greek by Vivian Hartley)

Saint Herman of Alaska’s 40th Anniversary and the Dedication of the “Hartley Library” (24 January, 2016)

Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Langley, British Columbia

A video about the life of Edward and Vivian Hartley was produced, but it is no longer available on Youtube.

The Saint Herman of Alaska Parish history article on the new 2023 web-site includes information about Dr. Edward and Vivian Hartley in the section “Parish Beginnings Circa 1975”.